The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-03-26

blDle Tonight, sue Sdlu u uSrSell do SbO
entered her mothers house. She did not,
however; for she got home from the party
too late and by that time she had forgotten
Allies existence. Perhaps it is just as
well; for fear she would have spent much
valuable time in the search and have been
no wiser in the end than when she began.
Allie Martin hurried as fast as her be-
numbed little feet would carry her; but
Chesters Street was long distance fromth
window where she had met Matte, and be-
fore she reached the narrow alley and as
ceuded the fight of ricketty outside stairs
that led to Mrs. Martins poor rooms, the
ztears that had followed one another down
fher cheeks had become little balls of ice in
the old hood under her chin. Mrs. Martin
rose hastily from the one small window,
where she had been straining her eyes to
finish some sewing by the fading daylight,
and put two sticks of wood in the broken
stove, that was quite marvellous to look at
when there was a good sized fire burning
in it. 1t was so covered with large queer
shaped cracks that it looked like an ilIu-
minated map of some strange country.
Mrs. Martin moved the tea-kettle forward
upon the principal continent on the map,
and turned, with smile, to welcome her
little daughter.
''Cold, my little girlW she said, as she
united the ragged hood. She must have
found the frozen tears; for shade of APP
prehension crossed her pale face, and she
asked, hurriedly: ibid you find Mrs
Greene at homer
eyes, mother. Here is the money; and
she said she would have a good deal of
work this spring; and as you did this so
nicely, you should have it all, if you had
time"
THANK Godl" said Mrs. Martin, CRATE
fully, kissing Allies cheek. "But why
these tears9 With this money l shall be
able to buy you warm dress and a cloak of
some kind. saw one yesterday that was
only three dollars"
ooh! mother" sobbed Allie putting her
arms around her mothers waist, and press
ing her face against her bosom. II never
want to see Mr.. Mason again. He's cruel,
wicked man,
"Why, why, Allie" exclaimed Mrs.
Martin, very much surprised. What do
you meant"
81 found out to-day why we have such
hard times" said Allie cts all because
of Lent wish he had never told US about
it."
Mrs. Martin thought, for moment, her
llIblS lluSG NC Oub VI utT
but taking her on her lap, she placed the
little cold feet on the hearth Of the ricketty
stove, and, by skillful questions, soon had
the whole history of the afternoon.
"They had such beautiful dresses, and
she had muff and flowers. Oh! mother
pink roses! like we used to have over the
porch at homel Don't you remember
motherW
Eyes, dear" Mrs Martin remembered
very well, indeed
"And they were going to a party tonight,
and it's all got to be spoilt. Oh! why does
Lent have to come to people, motherl'
At first Mrs Martin could not account for
Allies familiarity with the word Lent;
but she soon recalled the last visit from
Mr.. Mason, Jealous churchman, and the
emphasis he laid upon her observance of
the fast. He had dwelt much upon the
blessedness to be derived from it, and now
she remembered that Allie had been pres
ent, and as it appeared, had been an at
tentve listener.
By the time Alliewas thoroughly warmed
through, Mrs. Martin had hushed her grief
by the promise to tell her something about
Lent that would make her feel much hap
pier, after they had their tea.
$50 my little girl thinks we are keeping
Lent by living in these cold rooms, and wear
ing such old clothes!" said Mrs Martin, as,
latter in the evening" she took Allie on her
lap, after she was ready for bed. She was
we'll wrapped up in an old shawl of her
mothers, that kept off all the little chilly
airs that lived in the corners of the room,
and sat all day on the window sill, and, in
fact, lowered pretty we'll all around the
room except directly over the little cracked
stove, and she was happy in the prospect of
a quiet rock and talk with her mother
Mrs. Martin told, in simple way, how
Lent had prevailed for years in the Romish
and Episcopal Churches, and how society's
fashionable observance of the fast differed
from the self-denying spirit that leads so
many good persons to give up some pet in
diligence and abstain from all gayety for
that one period Of the year. If Allie did
not comprehend all her mother said, she
understood enough to known that the pinch
ing poverty of the last few years of their
lives had not been brought about by Mr..
Mason or his teachings, and the kind hearted
man was restored to his place in her affec-
tions.
Mrs. Martin held Allie in her arms long
while after the little girl fell asleep, and
her thoughts went back, as they did many
times each day of her life TO the home
where Allie was born. She saw the little
porch, with its festoons Of climbing roses,
from which the wind scattered shower of
pink snow upon the little lawn with its car
pet of white clover, the playground of little
Allie, and the child herself reaching to
pluck the red, white and pink hollyhocks
down by the gate, just as she looked that
morning. Allies father had been away
some months on long journey, and was
then expected home, and Allie could hard
ly be kept away from the gate, where she
was ''waiting for papa long enough to eat
%er meals. She seemed to see the gate
open and the kind nelghbor come up the
walk, and, after few words Of preparation,
give her the paper where the name of John
Martin appeared on the list of those killed
by terrible railway accident. Then fol
lowed the sad weeks when the pretty home
and all it contained was sold for debt, and
Allies mother found herself with only a
few hundred dollars in the world, and no
one to turn to for help, except an amt Of
her husband, who lived In a distant Eastern
city. To her great joy, this aunt wrote for
her to bring Allie and come to her, and she
would put her in way to support herself.
1t was a long journey, and, when the tray